Leinster and La Rochelle get prime-time billing in Champions Cup showdown at Aviva
Jamison Gibson-Park of Leinster on his way to scoring his side's third try during Saturday's Champions Cup round of 16 win over Leicester Tigers at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Leinster's Champions Cup quarter-final rematch with La Rochelle will take place next Saturday evening, with a 5.30pm kick-off.
The clash, which sees Ronan O'Gara's three-in-a-row chasing French side return to the Aviva Stadium where they came from 17-0 down to retain their title last season, will be broadcast live on RTÉ and TNT Sports.
Leinster season ticket holders will get first dibs on tickets for the game, before they go on general sale at 2pm on Monday.
O'Gara's men again came from behind to beat the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday, while Leinster booked their spot with a comprehensive victory over Leicester Tigers later that day.
The French side have relocated to their coach's home town of Cork to prepare for the game, which will be the fifth meeting between the clubs in five seasons.
La Rochelle beat Leinster in the semi-final in 2021 and the final in 2022 and 2023, but Leinster won when the teams met in the pool stage earlier this season.
Elsewhere, Bordeaux face Harlequins at the Stade Chaban-Delmas on Saturday, with Northampton Saints' reward for their win over Munster a home tie against the Bulls on Saturday night. The winner of that game will face Leinster of La Rochelle.
On Sunday, Toulouse will take on Exeter Chiefs in the final quarter-final and the winner of that game will take on Bordeaux or Harlequins.
The Challenge Cup fixtures will be confirmed later tonight, with Ulster set to take on Clermont away and the winner of Pau v Connacht taking on Benetton.
Champions Cup quarter-finals
(Pool stage rankings in brackets / All kick-offs local times)
Saturday April 13
QF 4: Union Bordeaux-Bègles (4) v Harlequins (5), Stade Chaban-Delmas, 3pm; TNT Sports;
QF 2: Leinster Rugby (2) v Stade Rochelais (10), Aviva Stadium, 5.30pm, RTE, TNT Sports;
QF 3: Northampton Saints (3) v Vodacom Bulls (6), cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, 8pm; TNT Sports
Sunday April 14
QF 1: Stade Toulousain (1) v Exeter Chiefs (8), Stade Ernest-Wallon, 4pm/ ITV/TNT Sports / SuperSport
Semi-finals – 3/4/5 May
SF 1: Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 4
SF 2: Winner QF 2 v Winner QF 3
(NB: The matches will be played in Europe and the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home country advantage)
Champions Cup final – Saturday May 25
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London (2.45pm)
Challenge Cup quarter-finals
(Pool stage rankings in brackets - all kick-offs local times)
Friday April 12
QF 2: Gloucester Rugby (2) v Ospreys (7), Kingsholm (8pm)
TNT Sports / S4C / beIN SPORTS / SuperSport / FloRugby
Saturday April 13
QF 1: Hollywoodbets Sharks (1) v Edinburgh Rugby (8), Hollywoodbets Kings Park (1.30pm)
SuperSport / TNT Sports / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby
QF 4: ASM Clermont Auvergne (4) v Ulster Rugby (12), Stade Marcel-Michelin (1.30pm)
France TV / beIN SPORTS / TNT Sports / SuperSport / FloRugby
Sunday April 14
QF 3: Benetton Rugby (3) v Connacht Rugby (11), Stadio di Monigo (1.30pm)
epcrugby.tv / beIN SPORTS / TNT Sports / SuperSport / FloRugby
Semi-finals – 3/4/5 May
SF 1: winner QF 1 v winner QF 4
SF 2: winner QF 2 v winner QF 3
(NB: The matches will be played in Europe and the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage)
Challenge Cup final – Friday May 24
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London (8pm)
